I also uploaded a compact version. It's the exact same model, just folded up different. Perhaps a bit easier to print, but also easier to clean out the supports.

Edit: By request, added a "flat" version with more of the hinges pointed on top. Unfortunately, topologically, there is no way to have all the hinges on the top, but at least we can get half of them up there.

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Up!

Printer:

Up Plus2

Rafts:

Yes

Supports:

Yes

Resolution:

.15mm Layer Height

Infill:

Loose

Notes:

Printed on an Up Plus 2 3D printer in white ABS, with .15mm layer height, with Loose fill, and Fine detail.

Post-Printing

If you can print a 3.2mm peg in a 4mm hole (and have it not stick!), then the print should be easy! The nice thing about the rounded hinges (and the entire point of having them rounded in the first place), is that it's easy to remove the supports. About the biggest problem I had was the print sticking to the raft.

A nice bit of sanding with 320 grit sandpaper makes everything come out nice and smooth.

How I Designed This

The holes for the hinges are 4mm in diameter, and the radius of the cubes is also 4mm, so the plastic holding the hinges in is just 2mm. The wide part of the hinges is 6mm, and gaps between the moving pieces is .4mm, so the pegs of the hinges sticking through the holes is 3.2mm. Any smaller and they'd have problems printing. As it is, the vertically printed pegs come out the best, the horizontally printed ones come out a bit wonky.

Interestingly, if the pegs are much larger (I tried 6mm), it's much stronger (and they come out nice and round), but there's more friction, and also the radius of the cubes becomes larger so you also end up with less mass swinging around (so it doesn't fidget as well!) Play around with the design, and see what you can build!

The hinges, especially the horizontal ones, do require a lot of support to print, so there may be some "breaking in" that needs to be done.

Also, you could try sizing-up the print to increase the gaps between the pieces. This was designed around my printer, so the gaps are the absolute minimum. Depending on your print head, speed, heat, and material, the gaps may be too fine.

I have tried to print quite a few of these and it seems like certain filaments may not work well with something like this. Mine have all ended up snapping without ever breaking free. I'm sure if a different brand of filament is used it would work.

What are the specs of your printer? I'm using the Up Plus2, with .15mm layer height, and ABS (I could never get PLA to feed consistently). The gaps between the pieces is .4mm, so that may be too narrow for your printer (the nozzle could be too large, or your print speed may be too fast, or even too slow). The new version with extra wide gaps has 1mm spacing between the pieces.

With the flat model, I was able to print this without support! It's perfect! I was able to break it free and manipulate it completely. A little clean up helped it out but that's all that was needed. Thanks for the flat version!

This is the only version of a folding or fidget cube that I've been able to print successfully. This is due to the great hinge design. It's also far stronger than other designs. I moves loosely and is easy to manipulate one handed.

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